here we go:
I wanted a minibog without any drainage/overflow pipes because there really isn't need for that here we get so little rain. I did want a way to check the water level though, so I decided to put a PVC pipe in the corner of the planter. Pouring water into it to water the planter doesn't work so well because the peat : perlite mixture will just float above the water as in a mat, but I'm ok with top-watering or just pouring *really slowly* into the pipe. So, the picture show:
get the pot and cut the pipe (at a slant to let water seep up it)
pour 1peat:1perlite in the bottom, with a smallish sized container to mix up a bit at a time so it's not too heavy to mix all together
mix in the water - this is damped down so it doesn't kick up dust, but is still too dry (you can tell by the granular texture)
so pour in more water and the perlite comes up where the water hit the mix
so mix it up again, and you can tell there's enough water because it makes big wet clumps
and slowly fill up the container until it's at a good level
now, there is a bit of the mix in the pipe
so pour water in it so the peat : perlite plug comes rushing out the top, so you have a cleared-out water pipe for checking the water level after everything is all in - it should look like this in the end
set your plants out how you want to plant them. I just pushed the pots into the substrate to make an indent, and pulled the plants with their old soil out of their pots as to not disturb the roots, and just slid them right into the holes I had just made.
(this is minibog 2 - plants include S.leuco from flytrapshop.com, S.Dana's Delight, S.alata, S.rubra wherryi, S.flava, S.oreophila)
and while I was transplanting I found a pleasant little surprise on my alata - though I think it's a little early for it?:
and this is the first minibog I made today (with S.minor, S.Judith Hindle, S.flava rubricorpora, S.purpurea ssp. venosa, S. Cobra Nest, flytrap Royal Red):